Romans 3.28-4.3 (Epistle)

28Mislimo dakle da æe se èovjek opravdati vjerom bez djela zakona. 29Ili je samo Jevrejski Bog, a ne i neznabožaèki? Da, i neznabožaèki. 30Jer je jedan Bog koji æe opravdati obrezanje iz vjere i neobrezanje vjerom. 31Kvarimo li dakle zakon vjerom? Bože saèuvaj! nego ga još utvrðujemo.

1Šta æemo dakle reæi za Avraama, oca svojega, da je po tijelu našao? 2Jer ako se Avraam djelima opravda, ima hvalu, ali ne u Boga. 3Jer šta govori pismo? Vjerova Avraam Bogu, i primi mu se u pravdu.

Matthew 7.24-8.4 (Gospel)

24Svaki dakle koji sluša ove moje rijeèi i izvršuje ih, kazaæu da je kao mudar èovjek koji sazida kuæu svoju na kamenu: 25I udari dažd, i doðoše vode, i dunuše vjetrovi, i napadoše na kuæu onu, i ne pade; jer bješe utvrðena na kamenu. 26A svaki koji sluša ove moje rijeèi a ne izvršuje ih, on æe biti kao èovjek lud koji sazida kuæu svoju na pijesku: 27I udari dažd, i doðoše vode, i dunuše vjetrovi, i udariše u kuæu onu, i pade, i raspade se strašno. 28I kad svrši Isus rijeèi ove, divljaše se narod nauci njegovoj. 29Jer ih uèaše kao onaj koji vlast ima, a ne kao književnici.

1A kad siðe s gore, za njim iðaše naroda mnogo. 2I gle, èovjek gubav doðe i klanjaše mu se govoreæi: Gospode! ako hoæeš, možeš me oèistiti. 3I pruživši ruku Isus, dohvati ga se govoreæi: hoæu, oèisti se. I odmah oèisti se od gube. 4I reèe mu Isus: gledaj, nikomu ne kazuj, nego idi i pokaži se svešteniku, i prinesi dar koji je zapovjedio Mojsije radi svjedoèanstva njima.

Holy Prophet Amos (8th c. BC)

He was an unlearned shepherd from the village of Tekoa in Zabulon, near Bethlehem. His prophecies, made during the reign of King Uzziah, make up the Old Testament book which bears his name. He is ranked third among the “minor prophets” of the Old Testament.

Holy Martyr Vitus, with Modestus and Crescentia (303)

“St Vitus was born in Sicily of eminent pagan parents. Modestus was his tutor and Crescentia his governess. St Vitus was baptised early and, when only twelve years old, began to live an intensive ascetic life. Angels appeared to him, instructing him and encouraging him in his labours, and he was himself as radiant and handsome as an angel of God. A judge who beat him had the flesh of his arm wither away, but Vitus healed it by his prayers. His father was blinded when he saw twelve angels in his room ‘with eyes like stars and faces like lightning’, but Vitus restored his sight by his prayers. When his father sought to kill him, an angel appeared to him and took him to Lucania on the bank of the river Silaris, together with Modestus and Crescentia. St Vitus performed many miracles there for the sick and insane. He went to Rome at the summons of the Emperor Diocletian and drove out an evil spirit from his son. Far from rewarding him, the Emperor tortured him cruelly when he would not bow down before mute idols, but the Lord delivered him from torture and returned him to Lucania by His invisible arm, and there he and Modestus and Crescentia entered into rest in the Lord. St Vitus’ relics are preserved in Prague.” (Prologue)

In the West, St Vitus’ aid is often invoked for the cure of many ailments, especially insanity and demonic possession. For this reason his name is given to St Vitus’ dance, an acute neurological illness that produces uncontrollable movements in the face and limbs, usually occurring in children.

Blessed Augustine, bishop of Hippo (430), and his mother Monica (387)

After seeking truth among many religious schools, including the Manicheans, Augustine was turned to faith in Christ through the cousel and fervent prayers of his mother St Monica. The story of his early life and conversion is beautifully told in his Confessions. He lived for seventy-six years, the last thirty-five as bishop of Hippo in north Africa. He died in a barbarian attack on that city.

In recent years, a few Orthodox writers have tried to deny that Augustine is a Saint of the Orthodox church (mostly due to some theological errors in his writings which have been unduly promoted in the Latin church). These claims are false: from the time of his canonization, he has been commemorated as a Saint.

Holy Martyr Lazar, Prince of Serbia (1389)

“He was one of the greatest men of Serbia who ruled the kingdom after king Dušan. Upon the death of King Uroš, Lazar was crowned King of Serbia by Patriarch Ephraim. He sent a delegation to Constantinople, including a monk called Isaiah, to plead for the removing of the anathema from the Serbian people. He went to war on several occasions against the Turkish Pasha, finally clashing with the Turkish king, Amurât, at Kosovo on June 15, 1389, being slain there. His body was taken to Ravanica near Cupria, a foundation of his, and buried there, but was later taken to New Ravanica in Srem. During the Second World War, in 1942, it was taken to Belgrade and placed in the Cathedral, where it is preserved to this day and offers comfort and healing to all who turn to him in prayer. He restored Hilandar and Gornjak, built Ravanica and the Lazarica in Kruševac and was the founder of St Panteleimon, the Russian monastery on the Holy Mountain, as well as numerous other churches and monasteries.” (Prologue)